The Faulkner-Wisdom Creative Writing Award is offered by the Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Society in New Orleans. Two years ago I entered Under the Almond Trees, an adult historical fiction novel. I had not yet finished the novel, but entered in the Novel in Progress category. I made it to the semi-finals and was ecstatic.

This year Under the Almond Trees is finished and I entered it again, this time in the Novel category. There were 362 entries in the category, most from New Orleans but representing 37 states and seven foreign countries. Again, I made it to the semi-final round before being eliminated. Still, that’s the top third of submissions so I can be proud! It’s also great to have some street cred when persuading publishers to publish your book. Awards do that.